This is a community for the discussion of news and links pertaining to political philosophies of Libertarian Socialism. Libertarian socialism is a group of political philosophies that promote a non-hierarchical, non-bureaucratic society without private property in the means of production. An alternative to State Socialism and to Right-Libertarianism. Join us if you too believe Egalitarianism to be the optimal base for a society.

Hi folks! I'm hoping that the community can help me come up with a concise list which describes in simple terms (but not childish) how Libertarian Socialist thought is different from the other popular political ideologies here on Reddit. For example:

How is Libertarian Socialism different than Libertarianism (both philosophical and vulgar Libertarianism)? I suppose this would also include Left-Libertarianism

How is Libertarian Socialism different than Socialism? I suppose this would also include both State Socialism and Market Socialism.

How is Libertarian Socialism different than Anarchism?

Also if anyone has suggestions regarding recommended reading or well known advocates of Libertarian Socialist thought, I'd appreciate that to.

I've always thought of libertarian socialism as a synonym to anarchism. That's it's difference with socialism: libertarian socialism is anti-state socialism, relying on direct action and grassroots struggle to bring about socialism about implement it from below rather than elections or coup d'etats and implementing (and running) it from above. It differs from U.S. Libertarianism in that it's left-wing (socialist) not right-wing (capitalist). Traditionally, libertarian meant anarchist. Then U.S. Libertarian Party/Rothbard came along and said "fuck it we're going to ignore history and claim it as our term":

"One gratifying aspect of our rise to some prominence is that, for the first time in my memory, we, ‘our side,’ had captured a crucial word from the enemy . . . ‘Libertarians’ . . . had long been simply a polite word for left-wing [sic!] anarchists, that is for anti-private property anarchists, either of the communist or syndicalist variety. But now we had taken it over...” (The Betrayal of the American Right, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, 2007, p. 83)

Thanks for the reply! I was aware of the difference between how the world has used the word "Libertarian" and how it's commonly used in the U.S. but I had not seen that quote before and did not realize it was so deliberate.

I've seen the vague assertions that libertarian socialism = anarchism = left libertarianism but this strikes me as missing some important subtlety (which is exactly what I'm trying more fully understand). Though perhaps this is just my personal urge to place ideas properly in their correct places.

Yeah this page is flawed as hell but it at least gives a short answer to your question.

Left-libertarianism can refer generally to three related and overlapping schools of thought:

Anti-authoritarian, anti-propertarian varieties of left-wing politics, and in particular of the socialist movement.

(^ IE, libertarian socialism)

The Steiner-Vallentyne school, whose proponents draw radical conclusions from classical liberal or market liberal premises — either emphasizing links between self-ownership and egalitarianism. The term in this sense can also be seen as referring more broadly to political philosophies in the liberal tradition which embrace egalitarian views concerning natural resources, holding that it is not legitimate for someone to claim private ownership of such resources to the detriment of others. In this sense, the work of David Ellerman can also be seen as left-libertarian.

I no longer truly identify as a libertarian socialist (honestly don't identify as anything and won't until I read much more philosophy and strongly consider it)... But yeah..

Libertarian Socialism is different from Libertarianism in that it is a socialist philosophy and obviously has very differing views on private property (also anarchist instead of minarchist, although there are anarchist private-property libertarians. I'm sure there are more differences). It is under the subset of philosophies grouped as left-libertarian.